Except for the US media (which too remains ineffective) the American citizens at large have yet to show any public concern over their “Emperor” Bush’s strange utterings/actions. Do a majority of Americans (never mind the polls) still believe that their “ruler” may have chosen the correct path? After reading what President George Bush has to say about General Musharraf, I am now wondering whether any Tom, Dick or Harry can get into the White House and play the monkey as long as he likes!!!
Let’s look at the latest…”US President George Bush stood up decisively for Pakistan’s military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, calling him a ‘loyal ally’ and a ‘man of his word’ and signaling Washington’s full-scale backing for the embattled dictator in the face of wide-spread criticism of US policy,” reports The Times of India.
“In an astonishing defense of the now widely-reviled dictator, Bush told ABC News in an interview at his Camp David retreat: ‘So far I’ve found him to be a man of his word. He’s done more for democracy in Pakistan than any other modern leader has’.
“The only reservation the US President had about Musharraf was the declaration of Emergency. ‘But I believe he’s gonna end up getting Pakistan back on the road to democracy – I certainly hope so,’ Bush said.
“The US President, who has claimed in the past that he is ‘tight’ with Musharraf, said the Pakistani dictator has ‘also advanced democracy in Pakistan. And he’s said he’ll take off his uniform and said there will be election. Today, he released prisoners’.
“Bush’s ringing endorsement seemed to fly in the face of the facts on the ground and came even as the US engineered power-sharing plans in Pakistan at the expense of its democracy yearnings was coming apart at the seams.
“Both US and Pakistani media have pointed out that Musharraf has selectively made common cause with the very extremists Bush credits him with fighting, has repeatedly reneged on promises to demit office and hold free and fair election, and even as he released some prisoners, continued to incarcerate the most respected members of Pakistan’s civil society and judiciary.”
Ha! Ha! Ha! Imagine…a dictator becoming a great lover of democracy by just removing his General’s uniform!!! I have heard a rumour: Musharraf is sending the General’s uniform to the White House. It is up to the Americans to ensure that their ‘Emperor’ does not wear it!!!
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.